Thursday, September 23, 2021

Canada: Are you finding REST in Jesus in the Day of Trouble?

A timely Word from the Old Testament, for Canada. This is in light of the recent snap election we just had.

Rest in Jesus Christ the ROCK, in the Day of Trouble! He fulfills the Scripture in Psalm 72:8 which is the national motto of Canada on the Coat of Arms. "From Sea to Sea". Jesus is the King who has dominion from sea to sea!  :) 

Above Photo By Curtis J Alexander (c) 2021. Image: Old boat and lobster fishing community at Peggy's Cove, NS. East Coast and the Atlantic Ocean is visible in background. Note the rock in the foreground that is higher than the grounded, old wrecked boat.  We should be standing on the unshakeable rock that is higher than our problems. His Name is Jesus Christ (1 Cor 10:4). Jesus is the Rock and He is helping us to rest on unshakable ground. 

The question is not why did God allow a corrupt government to arise temporarliy?
The REAL question is: Canada: Are you finding REST in Jesus in the Day of Trouble?
Do YOU trust in God's long-term plan for His glory, and for your spiritual and eternal benefit? All things work together for Good for those that are called to God's purpose and love Jesus. (See Romans 8:28)

#jesusfromseatosea #fromseatosea #Christianheritageofcanada

Habakkuk 3:16a
16 When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. ...

Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--
18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.
-----
You do not always need to understand why God allows certain leaders to arise. Habakkuk sure did not understand God raising up the wicked Chaldean government to overtake the corrupt government of Judah at the time. Yet as with all earthly kingdoms/nations, Chaldea (Babylon) was also temporary. God always had a plan to redeem Judah (south Kingdom) and Israel (nothern Kingdom that went into exile earlier.) God has redeemed all Jews, and Israelites and Gentiles that have trusted in Jesus Christ for their individual and personal salvation! It is accomplished in Jesus. And King Jesus is the ONLY Leader who has an ETERNAL, unshakable, righteous and effective Nation! 

Above - Video by Curtis J Alexander- Practicing and Jamming spontaneously on Piano in Nova Scotia playing hymns and original Christian music. Contains several original photos from NS taken in Aug/Sep. 2021.

Today is THE DAY to walk in the heavenly perspective, just as Habakkuk did. We have a heavenly position today... and we are bound for New Jerusalem, the Holy Nation. She IS the Lamb's Wife! She is the Mother of us who believe! (See 1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 21:2, 9-12, Gal. 4:26)

Like Habakkuk, we can learn to trust God that a. Each earthly office is temporary, as with all earthly endeavours. and b. God is always loving, righteous and holy. He cares for you and me. He proved it and still proves it through Jesus Christ! You can focus on the current heavenly reality- Christ's heavenly Bride, the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2, 9-12, Isa 62:4-5; Gal. 4:26.) This is the only City and Nation that lasts forever, and ANYONE who believes Jesus can be saved to enter in! (Joh. 10:9). Preach the Kingdom of Heaven!  And find your REST right now in Jesus' safe strong presence. This is NOT to say we should be completely complacent about current world affairs in Canada and abroad. But it IS to say we should stop clamouring and fretting over politics and trust God is doing the right thing at all times. We should peacefully perform our civic duties, AND we should rest in Christ and His sovereign and loving master plan.

 Isaiah 28:12 NKJV
To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," And, "This is the refreshing"; Yet they would not hear.

Another GREAT question to ask yourself:
Will YOU hear and respond to Jesus' invitation to rest in Him in the midst of troubles in Canada? Don't wait. NOW is the perfect time to rest in Jesus' accomplished work on the cross! He rules and reigns TODAY and FOREVER! He is inviting you to share in and rest in HIS VICTORY over all sin, corruption, demonic power, and death!! His sinless life, death, burial and resurrection completes us!!

Matthew 11:28-30 
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

By the way, when Jesus says in verse 29 "learn from Me", that is a call to DISCIPLESHIP (not just salvation). "Disciple" in the original Greek text literally means "learner". 

That is something we actively do in the power of His Holy Spirit... and thus we rest our souls in Jesus' presence while actively learning dynamically from His Spirit every day as disciples.

Let us as believers in Jesus take Jesus up on His current offer of REST. And from that consistently refreshed state, let us labour with HIM in His easy yoke (harness)! 

(above photo- Sep 1 2021. Curtis visiting his lady-friend Jenny Harrison at Peggy's Cove, NS. Her parents were gracious to host Curtis at their home in Dartmouth, NS. They even invited me to play their pianos! See above video)


God bless,
Pastor Curtis 

Assistant at ChurchOnTheGO.ca
Newmarket, ON
10:40am Eastern Time.
Sep. 23rd/2021